It was because I tore my ACL playing football the week before my school's state soccer final match many of the parents blamed the fact we lost the finals on me for getting injured.
>sports in my town are a big deal

Sorry, let me clarify full ACL tear, radial meniscus tears, and my knee dislocated every time I tried to pivot or kick the ball. I thought it was a sprain until my coach had the team medic look at me after I collapsed during line sprints.